GAZA, (PIC)
Health officials are warning of serious risks to patients in Gaza following the repeated closure of the Rafah crossing, which has halted medical evacuations and left thousands without access to urgent treatment abroad.
Raed al-Nims, spokesperson for the Palestine Red Crescent Society, said the intermittent closure of the crossing is endangering the lives of the sick and wounded, as the limited number of departures during brief openings has failed to meet urgent medical needs.
He explained that patient selection for travel is coordinated between Gaza’s health ministry and the World Health Organization, based on severity, from the most critical cases to less urgent ones.
However, al-Nims said the process remains heavily restricted due to the limited number of approvals, noting that Israeli authorities ultimately determine how many patients are allowed to travel, based on their own criteria.
He described these restrictions as unacceptable given the growing humanitarian needs.
Medical evacuations through the Rafah land crossing have been completely suspended since Monday after Israeli authorities closed the crossing.
The Palestinian Authority for Crossings and Borders confirmed that the closure has halted all travel for humanitarian cases, including patients and wounded individuals listed for evacuation.
According to official figures, more than 22,000 patients and injured people in Gaza urgently need to travel abroad for treatment. Of those, around 19,000 have completed all required medical and legal procedures and are awaiting permission to leave.
